Air Content & Your Health - Airborne Pollution Control

Air pollution affects everyone. Every day, the average adult breathes over 3,000 gallons of air. Children breathe even more air per pound of body weight and are thus more susceptible to air pollution.

Millions of people live in areas where urban smog, very small particles, and toxic pollutants pose serious health concerns. These health concerns can stem from either short-term or long-term exposure to air pollution. When people have a short-term exposure to air pollutants above certain levels, they may experience temporary health concerns, such as eye irritation and burning, throat irritation, and difficulty breathing. Long-term exposure to air pollution can cause chronic health concerns, such as cancer and damage to the body's immune, neurological, reproductive, and respiratory systems.

The problem of air pollution is also found outside of major urban centers. Air pollution can be wide-ranging as well as persistent. Many air pollutants, such as those that form urban smog and toxic compounds, remain in the environment for long periods of time. These air pollutants can also be carried hundreds of miles by winds and can thus affect areas far-removed from the source of the pollution.